Job

Chapter 32

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

The argument pauses long enough for a new voice to step forward. Elihu enters angry with Job for defending himself against God and angry with the three friends for failing to answer him, then explains why he has kept silent until now and why he can no longer do so.

This chapter opens the Elihu speeches and marks a real turn in the book's dramatic structure. After Job's final appeal, the scene does not move directly to God's answer; instead, it is interrupted by a younger observer who claims a different kind of insight and refuses to leave the deadlock untouched.

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Job 32

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vv. 1-22

Elihu Rebukes Job’s Friends

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S¹o these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. ²This kindled the anger of Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram. He burned with anger against Job for justifying himself rather than God, ³and he burned with anger against Job’s three friends because they had failed to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. ⁴Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the others were older than he. ⁵But when he saw that the three men had no further reply, his anger was kindled.

⁶So Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite declared: ⁷I thought that age should speak, ⁸But there is a spirit in a man, ⁹It is not only the old who are wise, ¹⁰Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; ¹¹Indeed, I waited while you spoke; ¹²I paid you full attention. ¹³So do not claim, ‘We have found wisdom; ¹⁴But Job has not directed his words against me,

¹⁵Job’s friends are dismayed, with no more to say; ¹⁶Must I wait, now that they are silent, ¹⁷I too will answer; ¹⁸For I am full of words, ¹⁹Behold, my belly is like unvented wine; ²⁰I must speak and find relief; ²¹I will be partial to no one, ²²For I do not know how to flatter,

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01vv. 1-22Elihu Rebukes Job’s FriendsThe chapter first explains why Elihu burns with anger at both sides of the dispute, then lets him justify his long silence and his decision to speak. He insists that wisdom does not belong to age alone, that the older men have failed, and that the pressure of unspoken words now compels him to answer without flattery.